March 19th: Here’s what happened at the Statehouse this week
This was the eleventh full week of the Indiana General Assembly’s 2021 session. Below are updates on a section of the bills that W4C is following.
Indiana Statehouse Updates
Below are updates on a selection of bills that W4C is following closely.
House Bill 1365, Various election matters, has been passed and adopted by the Senate Committee on Elections. This bill has already passed through the House. HB 1365 outlines several voting and vote count policies.
House Bill 1384, Civics education, has been amended by the Senate and returned to the House. The amendment included minor changes to the wording of the bill. This bill has already passed through the House and had bipartisan approval from the Senate. HB 1384 outlines a plan for creating standardized civics education in Indiana.
House Bill 1479, Early Voting, has been passed and adopted by the Senate Committee on Election. This bill would provide more time for voters to cast their early ballots. HB 1479 has already passed through the House.
House Bill 1485, Voting matters, has been passed and adopted by the Senate Committee on Elections. This bill outlines several voting and polling place policies and has already gone through the House.
Senate Bill 6, State house monument to suffragists, has been returned to the Senate with no additional amendments from the House. This bill has already passed through both the Senate and the House with bipartisan support from each.
Senate Bill 10, Statewide maternal mortality review committee, has been returned to the House after passing through the Senate. The Senate made one amendment to the bill and had bipartisan support. This bill has already passed through the House.
Senate Bill 79, Domestic battery enhancement, has been passed and adopted by the Senate Committee on Courts and Criminal Code. This bill protects survivors of domestic violence and increases punishment for abusers.
Senate Bill 81, Training for investigators of sexual assault cases, was returned to the Senate without any amendments and has since been signed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
New authors (Who are my state legislators?)
Senators J.D. Ford (D, District 29), James Buck (R, District 21), and Shelli Yoder (D, District 40) were added as cosponsors of House Bill 1384, Civics Education.
Senator Fady Qaddoura (D, District 30) has been added as a cosponsor of House Bill 1479, Early Voting.
Representatives David Abbott (R, District 82), Mike Andrade (D, District 12), Terri Jo Austin (D, District 36), Mike Aylesworth (R, District 11), Beau Baird (R, District 44), Brad Barrett (R, District 56), John Barlett (D, District 95), Maureen Bauer (D, District 6), Pat Boy (D, District 9), Chris Campbell (D, District 26), Martin Carbaugh (R, District 81), Robert Cherry (R, District 53), Edward Clere (R, District 72), Anthony Cook (R, District 32), Michelle Davis (R, District 58), Steven Davisson (R, District 73), Edward DeLaney (D, District 86), Sean Eberhart (R, District 57), Jeff Ellington (R, District 62), Karen Engleman (R, District 70), Sue Errington (D, District 34), Rita Fleming (D, District 71), Randall Frye (R, District 67), Philip GiaQuinta (D, District 80), Chuck Goodrich (R, District 29), Mitch Gore (D, District 89), Doug Gutwein (R, District 16), Carey Hamiliton (D, District 87), Earl Harris (D, District 2), Ragen Hatcher (D, District 3), Ryan Hatfield (D, District 77), Dave Heine (R, District 85), Carolyn Jackson (D, District 1), Blake Johnson (D, District 100), Michael Karickhoff (R, District 30), Joanna King (R, District 49), Sheila Klinker (D, District 27), Ryan Lauer (R, District 59), Cindy Ledbetter (R, District 75), Don Lehe (R, District 25), Matt Lehman (R, District 79), Daniel Leonard (R, District 50), Shane Lindauer (R, District 63), Jim Lucas (R, District 69) Ethan Manning (R, District 23), Chris May (R, District 65), Peggy Mayfield (R,District 60), Wendy McNamara (R, District 76), Doug Miller (R, District 48), Justin Moed (D, District 97), Robert Morris (R, District 84), Chuck Moseley (D, District 10), Julie Olthoff (R, District 19), Renee Pack (D, District 92), Tonya Pfaff (D, District 43), Matt Pierce (D, District 61), Gregory Porter (D, District 96), Elizabeth Rowray (R, District 35), Donna Schaibley (R, District 24), Robin Shackleford (D, District 98), Harold Slager (R, District 15), Ben Smaltz (R, District 52), Vernon Smith (D, District 14), Craig Snow (R, District 18), Edmond Soliday (R, District 4), Gregory Steuerwald (R, District 40), Vanessa Summers (D,District 99), Jake Teshka (R, District 7), Jeffrey Thompson (R, District 28), Heath VanNatter (R, District 38), Ann Vermillion (R, District 31), Timothy Wesco (R, District 21), Dennis Zent (R, District 51), and Cindy Ziemke (R, District 55) were added as cosponsors of Senate Bill 6, State house monument to suffragists.
Representatives Donna Schaibley (R, District 24) and Karen Engleman (R, District 70) were added as cosponsors of Senate Bill 81, Training for investigators of sexual assault cases.
Other Indiana news
Lawmakers Aim To End 2021 Session A Week Early - WBOI
Historic, bipartisan police reform bill heads to governor - The Statehouse File
Hoosiers 45 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Click here to find out how to register!